Great Famine Remembered In Silence By Irish Schools

All schools around Ireland will hold a minute’s silence today as a mark of respect for all those who died, suffered or were forced to emigrate, during the Great Famine period 1845-1849, here in Ireland.

Better known outside the shores of Ireland, as the Irish Potato Famine, this period witnessed the death of approximately 1.3 million people and the emigration of at least 1 million others from Ireland, causing the island’s population to fall by between 20% and 25%.

On Sunday next, St Mary’s Famine Museum here in Thurles Co Tipperary will officially open from 2:00pm – 5:30pm thus kicking off the start of the current Tipperary tourism season, (May 1st to September 30th) with the museum running a series of “Guided Tour Lectures,” on the afternoon, as part of the Ireland’s 2012 National Famine Commemorations.

Thurles Famine Museum now holds the largest collection of original Famine Memorabilia in Ireland and a number of new exhibition items will go on display for the very first time on Sunday, including an original document which is the only proof in existence of the “Tithe Wars,” here in Thurles.

Sandhurst Military Academy Uniforms And Holocaust Exhibition

Other events planned for later this year at St. Marys Museum include:-

An exhibition of clothing and other artefacts from the Downton Abbey era of Irish history, including old military uniforms from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Surrey, England.

A Holocaust photographic exhibition entitled “The Shoah,” dedicated to the memory and genocide of 5.29 – 6.2 million of our Jewish brethren.

Full details of these exhibitions will be announced by St Mary’s Famine Museum, in the coming weeks.
In the meanwhile if you are out and about on Sunday afternoon next, do call to St Mary’s Famine Museum in Thurles.

Note: Entry charge for this event costs just €2.50 which includes the ‘Lecture Tour,’ latter which begins sharp at 3:00pm.